Children washing utensils now that there is water available the households in the community feel secure and safer
Foni Bintang-Karenai, located in the West Coast region of The Gambia, is one of the country’s nine districts. It is located in the southwest of The Gambia, on the southern bank of the Gambia River. It is centrally located in the southern part of the region and is flanked by Foni Kansala and Foni Brefet. This district is predominantly inhabited by the Jola tribe, with some presence of Fula and Mandinka tribes. The majority of the district’s inhabitants are subsistence farmers who grow crops such as groundnuts, maize and millet. Notably, some members, especially women, are involved in the collection and sale of wild herbs with traditional medicinal uses, including herbs known as “Mborr Mborr,” “Kinkiliba,” and “Sangfito,” which are closely associated with the district. Foni Bintang-Karenai retains its rich traditional tribal culture and has served as a source of typical Jola and Mandinka tribal history and traditional ways of life. In addition, the district is home to an ancient Mandinka love poem called “Masannehsisay Bintang Bolong daala,” performed by local griots known as “Jali,” which depicts the romantic relationship between a powerful man believed to possess mystical powers and a lower caste woman afflicted by malevolent forces.
However, the district faces significant challenges, including illegal deforestation, particularly for rosewood, and vulnerability to forest fires, resulting in a lack of clean drinking water. According to Global Forest Watch, in 2010 the district had 243 hectares of tree cover, or 1.7% of its land area. By 2021, it had lost 225 hectares of tree cover, equivalent to 76.5 tons of CO2 emissions. The peak fire season in the Foni Bintang Karenai district typically begins in mid-February and lasts approximately 12 weeks. These factors combine to exacerbate the hardships faced by the indigenous tribes living in the district, particularly with regard to access to clean drinking water. The district also borders Senegal’s Casamance region, which is known for a four-decade-long separatist conflict. As a result, the district has become a haven for numerous refugees, exacerbating the existing clean water crisis. The border between Casamance and The Gambia is extensive and porous, characterized by a lack of official crossing points and relatively unimpeded movement. Historical links between border communities, including intermarriage and shared social norms, have existed since pre-colonial times. Although most refugees have returned as tensions have eased, the lack of safe drinking water remains a pressing concern for communities in the district.
ARANGALLEN VILLAGE
The smiles says it all. When there is water there is happiness
Hand washing culture is important for children to learn from
Conducting water quality test after completion of all works is paramount in our work
Water quality test result
Laying the pipes for dewatering
Getting ready for re-digging and dewatering
All hands on deck while the re-digging in on going
Clearing all the dirt from the well prior to re-digging and dewatering exercise
Ssenior supervisor inspecting the strategies for the work plan prior to commencing of works
Work in progress
This rehabilitation project will directly provide thousands of people with access to clean drinking water, which will have a significant impact on their health and overall living conditions. It will particularly benefit women and girls, who often bear the burden of household water collection. Increased access to clean water will allow girls to improve their educational opportunities and empower women socially and economically, especially within their households, as they currently spend a significant amount of time collecting water on a daily basis. In addition, it will foster harmony and understanding among community members, reducing conflicts that can arise during water collection.
OUTCOME
This project has been successfully completed thanks to Water Charity and its local partner Working Water The Gambia (WWG). This is one of a series of projects launched under the Water for Everyone initiative. The mission of the project was to improve water access and sanitation in 5 villages in Foni Bintang Karenai District by rehabilitating hand pumps, installing new ones where necessary and providing hand washing stations to improve sanitation and hygiene in the communities of ARANGALLEN VILLAGE, BULANJORR VILLAGE, BURAM VILLAGE, JAKOI BINTANG VILLAGE and KANGDONGKU VILLAGE. Thanks to the collaborative support of the villagers in all these villages, the project was successfully completed. This project provides access to clean water and sanitation for over 3,000 people.
BULANJORR VILLAGE
Isatou is pleased to see water flowing again in her community
Head of the village on the right celebrating the joy with his assistant village head
Conducting water quality testing is paramount to our work
Mounting the conversion head
Dismantling the handpump
Making a concrete belt for the protection of the well
Collecting sand and gravel for concrete mixing
ACTIVITIES
The project successfully completed the following tasks: draining the wells, re-digging them, and installing new German Mark 2 cylinders and conversion heads. In addition, stainless steel pipes, rod couplings, check nuts, bases, axles, and bearings were installed. Concrete water troughs were constructed, new culverts were added to the wells, and concrete slabs were laid. Hand-washing stations were set up and supplied with detergents in all the communities involved in the project. In collaboration with the Gambia’s Department of Water Resources, quality testing and treatment were conducted at the completion of each community project. Educational sessions were held in each community to teach effective handwashing techniques and simple water management methods. The communities also actively participated in manual labor, including digging and collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers to ensure safe storage of all materials.
BURAM VILLAGE
Happiness flowing along with clean water for the community
Inculcating the culture of hand washing in communities by providing hand washing stations and detergents is pivotal component of our projects
When clean water starts flowing the smiles starts getting brighter. Water is life
Fresh clean drinking water for the community
Always ensuring water quality testing is done after completion of works
Working on the concrete support pavement for the well
All hand on deck to get work going
Members of the community mobilizing to support the works
The old cylinder
Dismantling the handpump iron pipes to be replaced woith stainless steel ones to avoid corrosion and keep the water fresh and healthy to use
Taking off the conversion heads of the twin handpumps
Work in progress
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The primary objective of this project is to provide clean drinking water and better sanitation for the people of the selected 5 villages in Foni Bintang Karenai District as for the second phase of the project. This has been successfully achieved at the completion of the project.
The Foni region has long suffered from a lack of clean drinking water. The region has been hit hard by massive deforestation and frequent bushfires. The conflict between Senegalese forces and separatist rebels in the southern Senegalese region of Cassamance has also exacerbated the situation in the Foni region, which shares a long border with Cassamance. The mass movement of refugees from the recent clashes has exacerbated the water crisis for the communities hosting the refugees. One of the objectives of the project is to alleviate the lack of clean drinking water in the communities and to provide sanitation facilities.
One of the goals of this project is to provide clean drinking water to marginalized, vulnerable communities. Foni has many isolated villages that feel abandoned and forgotten. This project has made them feel heard, socially included and a part of humanity. For the villages that are close to the border, most of the time they felt abandoned due to fear as they are closer to the front line.
The project also empowers women and girls. We all know the burden that women and girls carry in collecting water. Statistics show that Foni has one of the lowest rates of female enrollment in schools. This clean water project will enable girls to attend school. The time spent collecting water will now be much shorter for girls in school. It will also help increase refugee children’s enrollment in school instead of being used for water collection.
Another important goal of this project is to inculcate the habit of handwashing in the communities. At each of the rehabilitated water sources in each community, a handwashing station is provided with detergent and a learning session on the techniques of effective handwashing. Community members gather in the village square for the learning sessions. This is a tool to combat the spread of germs and other communicable diseases that can spread within communities, especially after using toilets. It also helps breastfeeding mothers and children understand the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Attendance at the training sessions was high. Community involvement was immense and enthusiastic.
In the Fonis, open defecation is not as much of a problem as it is in other parts of the country. However, another important goal of these water projects is to provide households with 24-hour access to water. This will discourage people from going outside to defecate. Household water availability is a catalyst for ending open defecation.
Another focus of these projects is to encourage women’s involvement in home gardening. Each rehabilitated water source includes a concrete watering trough. The trough collects wastewater from the hand pump and can be used by nearby houses for small-scale home gardening. This avoids wasting water and allows households to grow vegetables and provide drinking water for their livestock. This helps provide households with a balanced diet and alleviates the extreme poverty that communities face, especially during the dry season.
Another aim of this project is to reduce the high rate of waterborne diseases in the beneficiary communities. Children often bear the brunt of waterborne diseases. Some households are deprived of all resources when waterborne diseases strike a family. These water projects will ease the burden on the communities, and money that would otherwise be spent on doctors or medicine can instead be used for food or girls’ education.
Another important objective of the project was to establish and train village water management committees. We established and trained water management committees in all project communities. They help with the day-to-day management and maintenance of the water source. This helps to make the project sustainable. As a best practice, we ensure that the committee is gender balanced and that women have a say in the maintenance and management of the water source. Traditional women communicators, known as ‘Kanyeleng’, are also involved in sensitizing communities to better water management.
JAKOI BINTANG VILLAGE
Childern eager to get to the handpump and get water
Leading by example as the community leader demonstrates how to do proper hand washing
Broad smiles while water flows nicely in the community
The experience and technicality of works is essential in our projects
The strength and commitment to get work done and provide clean drinking water for communities is the ultimate goal
Dismantling the conversion head and pedestal
BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL
As it has always been after the conclusion of all our projects, traditional and cultural leaders as well as village women committees, youth and members of the beneficiary villages took turns to heap gratitude and delight over the projects.
Similarly, with Foni Bintang Karenai District, all the village leaders of the respective 5 villages expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives., the local councilor of the district Yuba Jarju mentioned the great importance of these water projects in communities. This will help us stay healthy, as clean drinking water is the key to human life he said. He also mentioned the social and economic importance of the water projects, as well as the tremendous importance of clean drinking water for the communities, especially in relation to the provision of education and increased well-being. This is indeed joyful for the district said Kajally Bojang another cultural leader of the district. We have long suffered to get clean drinking water. Thank you for these projects. We will forever remain grateful to you. Similar remarks were said by other notable social and cultural figures within the beneficiary communities. Women’s group leaders also emphasized their happiness and gratitude towards the project. We wake up as early as 5 AM at times to go for water collection. We have suffered a lot due to lack of water, but this project has wiped away our tears. We are now celebrating success thanks to Water Charity, said Olimatou Colley traditional women mobilizer for the district. Community members from the isolated settlement of Kangdongku also expressed their utmost gratitude and thanks for the project. We have been forgotten a lot but now we feel alive thanks to this project. Our families can thrive, says Piere Gomez.
The traditional Chief of the district Alfusainey Jarju advised people to unite and collectively safeguard the successful sustainability of the water sources. Now that there is ample clean drinking water flowing in the 5 communities, thanks to Water Charity. He urged for the effective protection and proper management of the water sources. He also tasked the village development committees of the beneficiary communities to work closely with village water management committees for the sustainability of the projects. We all know the hardship we faced with the lack of water, this means we should work hard to collectively protect and safeguard the recently concluded projects. He thanks Water Charity for the projects.
Thanks to the donors for making this project a success.
KANGDONGKU VILLAGE
Women in the community are delightful with the clean water projects. They face the brunt of water collection in households
Water quality testing after completion of works is an important pillar in our projects
Dismantling the handpump
Work in progress
The old conversion head
This project has been completed. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
Foni Bintang-Karenai is one of the nine districts of the Gambia’s West Coast Region, which is located on the south of the Gambia River in the southwest of the country. Foni Bintang-Karenai is in the central south of the Region, between Foni Kansala and Foni Brefet. This district is dominated by the Jola tribe and some Fula as well as Mandinka tribes. The vast majority of people in the district are subsistence farmers, growing groundnut, maize and millet with some communities notably women engaged in collecting and selling wild herbs for traditional medicinal purposes. Herbs locally called “Mborr Mborr, Kinkiliba and sangfito” are commonly associated with this district. It still keeps traditional tribal culture and it also served as a source of typical Jola and Mandinka tribe history and traditional way of life. The district is also the home of an old Mandinka love poem called “Masannehsisay Bintang Bolong daala”. This love poem was played by the local griots of the district called “Jali” depicting the love life of a powerful man believed to possess mystic powers and a woman from a lower inferior caste possessed by evil.
However, the district is prone to illegal deforestation, especially in rosewood among others. The area is also prone to wildfires and as a result, this has led to the scarcity of fresh drinking water. According to Global Forest Watch reports, in 2010, the district had 243ha of tree cover, extending over 1.7% of its land area. In 2021, it lost 225mha of tree cover, equivalent to 76.5t of CO2 emissions. In Foni Bintang Karanai District, the peak fire season typically begins in mid-February and lasts around 12 weeks. All these factors have made life harder for the indigenous tribes that live within the district especially when it comes to clean drinking water. The district also borders with the Senegalese region of Cassamance which has been the center of separatist rebel conflict for four decades. As a result, it hosts hundreds of refugees which added more stress to the already alarming clean water crisis the district faces. The border between Casamance and The Gambia is long and porous. There are no official border crossings and people move from one side to the other with little restriction. Border communities are historically interlinked, most notably through inter-marriage, and have been partaking in the same social norms and customs since pre-colonial times. The influx of refugees earlier this year has made the water crisis worst in the district. Although a huge chunk of the refugees has gone back since the tensions have eased, but clean drinking water scarcity still remains to hunt communities.
This rehabilitation tour will provide access to clean drinking water for thousands of people directly. It will have a great impact on their health and social habitation in general. It will tremendously benefit women and girls as they bear the brunt of water collection within the household. It will make girls enrich their potential at school and also help women enrich their potential socially and economically especially at the household level, as at the moment they spend a huge amount of time in water collection daily. It will also forge harmony and understanding among members of communities, as at times quarrels and scuffles occur during water collection.
1. BATABUT KANTORA VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.375 W016°09.524
Population: 550
2 Conversion heads, 2 new cylinders (twin pump), 8 centralizers, 2 stainless steel pipes, hand washing station, the contractor will construct a new water trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically.
Batabut Kantora village is located along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. It is a Mandinka tribe community of roughly 550 people. It is a subsistence farming community growing groundnut and millet. According to sources, the community consists of the “Bujiran Kailandang” clan who hailed from the “Koringolu” of the ancient Kaabu Kingdom in the 18th century.
The community is facing a severe water crisis as it’s population cannot cope with the only water source available.
2. GIBANACK VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.876 W016°08.376
Population: 180
1 conversion, 1 cylinder, 1 stainless steel pipe, hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Gibanack village is located about 2 km north of Arangallen Village along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. The community is primarily made up of the Manjago tribe who originally migrated from Guinea Bissau during the PIGC war for independence from Portugal. The community is a subsistence farming community, growing millet, corn and groundnut with a handful of them engaged in fishing tilapia along the banks of The River Gambia. The only water source in the community has been broken for a long time and they currently depend on neighboring villages like Arangallen for water, which has resulted in a severe water crisis for the community.
3. JAKO VILLAGE
GPS: N13°13.698 W016°10.431
Population: 350
2 New cylinders, 2 conversion heads (twin pumps), 2 stainless steel pipes, dewatering and sanitizingthe well, plus a hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
This village is about 4 km north of Sibanor along the Trans-Gambia south bank road. It is a Jola and Mandinka tribe community. The community depends on subsistence farming mainly growing groundnut, millet, and corn. The community is also known for the collection of traditional medicinal healing herbs in the bush which women notably sell for livelihood. The community’s only water source is broken and as a result it is facing water crisis for a long time. People travel about miles daily to neighboring villages in search of clean drinking water for their families.
4. MANYINA VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.495 W016°12.312
Population: 400
1 Conversion head, new cylinder, 2 stainless steel pipes, re-digging the well extra 2 meters, de-watering and sanitizing well, hand washing station, new concrete slab. The contractor will construct a new water trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically.
Manyina Village is located along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. It is quite close to Sibanor. It is Mandinka tribe settlement and a subsistence farming community growing millet, rice and groundnut with a handful of women engaged in collecting medicinal herbs in the bush for economic gains. The community is faced with a water crisis. It has only one handpump serving the entire village and as a result of the high pressure it keeps breaking down due to poor standard parts and repair. This makes the villagers to depend on their neighboring village of Sibanor which is often not accepted by the Sibanor community.
5. KABOKORR VILLAGE
GPS: N13°22.274 W016°14.998
Population: 750
New cylinder, conversion head, dewatering and sanitizing well, 2 meters re-digging, rod couplings. 6 stainless steel pipes, 6 centralizers, and hand washing station, the contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Kabokorr village is situated east of Tampoto, and west of Killy Village along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. The community consists of Jola and Mandinka tribes living harmoniously together. The community is a subsistence farming community, growing groundnut, millet, and rice. Rice remains the most commonly grown food in the community, especially among women who sell the proceeds for the sustenance of their families and certain social functions. The Village has been suffering from a lack of clean drinking water due to a large number of people within the community, especially during the rainy season when their open wells got damaged by rain runoff. The current water source is not enough to serve the entire village.
6. KANUMA VILLAGE
GPS: N13°13.822 W016°16.441
Population: 400
1 Conversion head, 1 new cylinder, check-nuts, rod couplings, 5 centralizers, hand washing station, the contractor will construct a new water trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically.
Kanuma Village is located about 5 km north of Tampoto along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. It is a Mandinka tribe community of roughly 400 people. They are the descendants of the Biyayi clan who migrated from the ancient Kaabu Kingdom. The village is a historical place for several Manneh, Sanneh and Sanyang families. The community is a subsistence farming community growing groundnut, millet and corn. It is well known for producing traditional farming implements like “doumo and kobirango”. The community’s water source has broken down for a long while now, as a result, the community is currently depending on neighboring villages of Nyangit for water, which is about 2 kilometers away and they are often given a frown face there anytime they come collecting water. This has often resulted in scuffles and quarrels between the two neighboring communities.
7. BUNIADOU VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.051 W016°11.822
Population: 250
1 conversion, 3 meters extra re-digging, 3 culverts, dewatering and sanitizing the well, ground concrete fortification, concrete slab, 1 stainless steel pipe, hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Buniadou village is located on the outskirts of Sibanor along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. It is a Fula tribe community that migrated from the East of the country in search of pasture and better life. The community is a subsistence farming community growing groundnut, millet, and rearing of animals notably cows for sustenance. The community has only one water source which has been broken for a long time and they currently depend on Sibanor and other open wells for drinking. This water crisis has led to illness among the community members as some of them consume contaminated open well waters.
8. KILLY VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.422 W016°13.942
Population: 950
New cylinder, 1 conversion head, rod couplings (stainless steel), dewatering and sanitizingthe well, plus hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Killy village is located along the Trans-Gambia south bank road. The community consists of the Jola and Mandinka tribes. The community depends on subsistence farming mainly growing groundnut, millet, and corn. Women also collect traditional medicinal herbs from the bush and usually sell them at weekly markets called “Loumo”. This helps in household sustenance and other social activities. The community is facing a severe water crisis as the current water source is not enough for the community leading to so many households depending on contaminated open wells which have serious health effects on their health. The refugee crisis earlier in the year when war broke out in the Cassamance, also put a heavy burden on the community’s water issue.
9. BAJAGAR VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.054 W016°07.259
Population: 700
2 Conversion heads, 2 new cylinders, concrete slab, de-watering and sanitizing well, hand washing station, new concrete slab. The contractor will construct a new water trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically.
Bajagar is the last village within the Foni Bintang Karanai district bordering Foni Kansala District. It is located along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. The community has tremendous history and culture, especially among the Jola tribesmen. The traditional Jola initiation festival called “Futampaf’’ is also popular in this village dating back centuries ago. The community is faced with a water crisis as the current water source is not enough. This has led to many people using contaminated open wells which has detrimental health effects. The recent rainy season has caused the collapse of wells due to heavy downpours and erosion.
10. BATENDENG VILLAGE
GPS: N13°15.358 W016°18.927
Population: 350
1 New cylinder, 1 conversion head, dewatering and sanitizing well, rod couplings. 1 stainless steel pipe, 6 centralizers, hand washing station, the contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
This Village is located about 8km north of Somita Village along the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road. The community is a Mandinka tribe settlement. It is a remote community and a subsistence farming one as well, growing groundnut, millet, and corn. The Village has been suffering from a lack of water since its water source has been broken for a long time. As a result, the community sorted to using open wells which makes some people sick, especially among women and children. This has affected their daily life too.
Location
Purworejo village, Senduro District, Lumajang Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia
Community Description
The long and narrow island of Java is marked down the middle with a chain of mountains and active volcanoes. Java’s tallest mountain, Mt. Semeru, lies in the center of the province of East Java. From Mt. Semeru’s peak south to the Indian Ocean we find the Regency of Lumajang. In Semeru’s southern foothills, 4,503 people live in a village called Purworejo.
Most households in Purworejo earn a living as farmers, tending to rice, sugarcane, tobacco, vegetables, and small livestock. Of those 4,503, the regency government counts 491 people as poor.
It should also be noted Purworejo lies in Semeru’s rain shadow. Due to the more arid geography, farmers do no benefit from the extra growing season as do other farmers in rural Java.
SMK Senduro is a newly built vocational high school in Purworejo serving 512 students, including 154 poor students. Academic concentrations include agriculture, accounting, and tourism.
Problem Addressed
According to a World Bank-administered initiative, Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), about 40% of Indonesians lack access to proper sanitation.
Poor sanitation causes at least 120 million disease episodes and 50,000 premature deaths, with an economic impact of $6.3 billion, annually. At school, the disease leads to interrupted education, lower achievement, and lower potential earnings.
Despite the school’s recent construction, the administration has not been able to obtain the funds needed from the regional Ministry of Education to build government-mandated handwashing stations. From an informal survey, about 50% of students do not wash their hands after using the restroom. None of those use soap as there is no soap in the restrooms.
The regional government is campaigning to raise awareness of the importance of handwashing. Members of the community and school faculty believe student health can be improved by installing handwashing stations.
Project Description
This project is to build 3 handwashing stations at the school.
The stations will resemble similar designs built in the regency. Each will consist of a stand-alone 1.25 x 1.25 meter wall with four faucets and a simple trough sink.
The stations will be built outdoors adjacent to restrooms and connected to the existing school drainage system. The water supply is potable. Water originates in a bored well reaching a depth of 25 meters and is pumped through filters to a storage tank.
The stations will be built by local workers from the community. The school will pay the labor expenses.
Water Charity funds will pay for the materials, including cement, PVC pipes, river stones, faucets, and tiles.
After completion, the regional government has agreed to send health workers to give a presentation on health and handwashing.
SMK Senduro will manage the upkeep and guarantee that soap is always available.
Project Impact
512 students, 45 teachers and staff will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Matthew Borden
Comments
This is an important hygiene and sanitation project for the school. It will lead to improved health and wellbeing for the students and staff.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$0.00
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you “naming rights”, if that is something you would like.
Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.
Dollar Amount Needed
$555.00
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.
COVID-19 is spreading in Togo. The conditions are ripe for an outbreak, with close social contact, little knowledge and understanding about health and hygiene, and no consistent handwashing protocol.
Our Water for Everyone Program is designed to bring access to safe water to everyone in Togo. We make every effort to stay on mission and work consistently toward our lofty objectives, even when we encounter other urgent needs arising from poverty. It was always our intention to bring along other partners to work in other program areas, such as sanitation, public health, food security, education, and employment. However, the virus has emerged as a force to be immediately reckoned with which confronts us with life-and-death consequences which could dwarf other issues in comparison.
Frequent washing of hands in the proper manner for about 20 seconds has proven to be one of the most effective methods to slow down the spread of the virus. New facilities are urgently needed to make this practical in Togo. This solution is relatively inexpensive and can be deployed at once.
Consequently, we have begun a program to provide needed handwashing facilities and extensive training in hygiene and health in two regions. We’re starting in the Plateaux Region, working with our partner AVIDI, Association de Volontariat International pour le Développement Intégral AU Togo (roughly translated as Association of International Volunteering for Integral Development in Togo). AVIDI has been a vital partner of Water Charity, conducting half of our assessments of the water needs of the Plateaux Region.
Our work has started in the Kloto Prefecture of the Plateaux Region. We have targeted 32 communities with about 90,000 people, and will begin to address their needs one-by-one, to the full extent of our resources.
Handwashing stations will be fabricated and placed in public places. Each standard unit consists of a durable steel frame, a soap dispensing mechanism, and a plastic barrel with a valve. Provisions for runoff are made with channeling and gravel. In addition, a multi-unit solution to serve more people at a time can consist of one elevated water supply barrel plus several wastewater barrels over which hand washing takes place.
Each installation will be accompanied by health and hygiene training of the leaders and other occupants of the village to outline how germs are transmitted, the reduction in illness by proper practices, and the appropriate handwashing protocol.
The second part of this program will be conducted directly by the Water Charity team in the Maritime Region. This team of young professionals has proven their competency in conducting the assessment throughout the country. They remain cohesive, focused, dedicated, and committed to their country, and have been tooling up to begin the fabrication of handwashing units and the development and dissemination of training protocols.
In a selected prefecture of the Maritime Region, we will be building hand-washing units and preparing to deploy our team of about a dozen people. These are all professionals who conducted the major part of our countrywide assessment. They are all deeply committed to their country and honored to play a part in our work. They are educated and trained in health and hygiene, and we are developing and disseminating the training protocol.
We will regularly update this page with new information.
Please contribute to this urgent program to the greatest extent possible by contributing to our Water for Everyone – Togo using this link.
Community Description
Lesfello in Kédougou is located about 400 miles southeast of Dakar, the country’s capital. The community has a population of 700 and continues to grow rapidly.
Problem Addressed
As the population of the village increases, access to clean water and sanitation facilities are essential to reduce the amount of waterborne and hygiene-related diseases. Currently, one compound out of 57 owns a pit latrine, which means most of the population defecates in the forest, near rivers and streams, contaminating drinking water.
Project Description
This project is to improve water, sanitation, and health standards by building 20 pit latrines.
Two-meter-deep holes will be dug by the recipients. Platforms will be built of concrete and rebar by trained masons and placed over the holes. The families will be responsible for the privacy enclosures.
Water Charity is participating in the project in cooperation with the Peace Corps Partnership Program, with substantial participation by the community. Water Charity funds will be used for materials, including cement and rebar, as well as to pay for the labor of skilled masons.
Upon completion, the volunteer will collaborate with La Lumiere Kedougou, to follow up with a hand washing demonstration, latrine maintenance, and continued use.
Project Impact
200 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Jamie Trombley
Comments
Increasing hygienic capacity by providing sanitation facilities will decrease the number of contaminants leaching into groundwater and nearby streams, decrease the number of disease vectors, and improve overall water quality and the environmental health conditions of the village.
Dollar Amount of Project
$530.00
Donations Collected to Date
$530.00
Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of the Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College, Canterbury, Victoria, Australia.
Magunga Township Secondary School Handwashing Station Project – Kenya
Location
Magunga, Suba District, Nyanza Province, Kenya
Community Description
Magunga Township Secondary School is a young school located in a rural village near Lake Victoria in the scenic Gwassi Hills. The community is small and agriculturally based and the area is semi-arid with long periods of dryness as well as the problems of soil erosion due to unsustainable farming practices and deforestation. Suba district is also among the communities most heavily affected by HIV in Kenya.
Problem Addressed
The Magunga Secondary School has little access to proper sanitation. The lack of handwashing stations makes the students susceptible to other illnesses particularly diarrhea.
Project Description
This project is to install 3 handwashing stations on the school grounds.
One 1,000-liter tank will be installed near the students’ latrines. It will contain 2 sinks (one for girls one for boys). One 210-liter tank with one sink will be placed at the staff latrines.
For each station, a platform will be constructed on which the tank (with taps) will be placed. A tin roof will be built and gutters will be attached so that rainwater can be harvested during the rainy season.
The school will provide the labor of a local carpenter, and the stations will be maintained by the school staff and student prefects.
The stations will be made of bricks and cement for durability. The sinks will use push tap faucets to reduce the water wastage.
Trees will be planted along with the drainage areas and will utilize the water from the drains.
Water Charity funds will pay for the tanks, as well as materials used to construct the platforms, roofing, and gutters.
Upon completion, the Peace Corps Volunteer will give the students and staff a lesson on hygiene and how to properly use the handwashing stations.
Project Impact
200 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Margaret Guin and Kyle Babbitt
Comments
This is an important project that will improve the health and well-being of students, teachers, and staff.
Dollar Amount Needed $0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Paula Schmid, of Findley, MN, USA, who served in Georgia and completed a project there with Water Charity.
This project has been concluded. Upon the conclusion of service by the PCVs, the completion was left to an RPCV who lived in the area.
Location
Corozal Coban, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, Central America
Community Description
Corozal is a small rural village that is surrounded by tropical jungle. There is no electricity available, but the community does have a system of pipes that delivers water to about 50% of the houses and the school from a nearby spring.
The community is seeking certification as a Healthy School by the Ministry of Education and Peace Corps, Guatemala.
Project Description
The project is to build a handwashing station for the school. It will consist of 8 faucets, sufficient to support the school’s growing population. All pipe inside the cement and running to the faucets will be galvanized steel and the cement itself will be reinforced with rebar, making the project very durable.
The drainage pipes will have removable PVC ends before entering the drainage pit/septic pit, making maintenance and upkeep of the handwashing station simple and easy.
The community will provide all manual labor and the municipality will provide the truck to transport the materials. Project funds will be used for materials.
Project Impact
The school currently has 150 students coming from 32 families, all of whom will be greatly impacted.
The handwashing station will allow the students to practice healthy habits in school. They will be able to wash their hands after they use the bathroom and before they eat. They will be able to brush their teeth after a snack. The ultimate goal is that the students take these habits back to their homes.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Dave Bowker
Comments
This project serves a definite need and will contribute to the hygiene and public health of the school and the community. Certification will bring in additional funds for other projects.
Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00
Donations Collected to Date
$500.00
Dollar Amount Needed $0.00 – This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Dave Bowker of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Dave and/or those of his counterpart PCVs in Guatemala.
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.
Conclusion of SMK Senduro Handwashing Station Project – Indonesia
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Matthew Borden. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build 3 handwashing stations at the school.
Matthew reports:
The water and sanitation project at SMK Senduro in Purworejo Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia has been completed successfully. Thank you Water Charity!
Two people stand out as major local advocates. Ibu Sri, principal at SMK Senduro, and Pak Sukur, a service-minded community member, planned and directed construction as well as the health presentation. Three community health workers contributed their time to present on common waterborne diseases and proper handwashing techniques.
Construction and the presentation were completed as planned and finished early. Ibu Sri contributed school funds to hire laborers to build the handwashing stations. In two weeks the laborers built 3 stations featuring four faucets, a sink, and a soap dispenser at each station.
Water is sourced from on-site wells. Drainage pipes are incorporated into the existing infrastructure. The school has promised to maintain the facilities and access to hand soap.
SMK Senduro commemorated the completion of the project with a ceremony attended by all 557 students and staff. After a few opening remarks, health workers presented on waterborne diseases. All students and staff pledged to maintain their health. The principal, the student body president, and a representative from the health center signed a declaration guaranteeing their commitment. Finally, the health workers led practical handwashing demonstrations using the handwashing stations.
I want to personally thank Ibu Sri, Pak Sukur, and all others for their dedication to this project. I plan to meet with the community health center soon to explore more water and sanitation problems in the area.
Ibu Sri sends a heartfelt “thank you” to Water Charity for their support.
We are grateful to Matthew for completing this ambitious and important project to bring adequate hygiene facilities to over 500 kids. We are still seeking donations.
Conclusion of La Primavera Tank and Handwashing Station Project – Guatemala
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Chelsea Leroux. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project, comprised of a 10,000 liter water tank and an 8-faucet handwashing, was designed to provide a steady source of water for two buildings at the school. In actuality, much more was accomplished.
Chelsea reports:
After just five weeks, two masons and a total of 120 parents successfully completed the construction of a 10,000 liter ferro-cement water tank, an 8-faucet handwashing station, a 4-faucet handwashing station, and all the required piping/tubing to make it a rain-water catchment system.
With extra materials and three days left of work, the masons were able to install the extra 4-faucet handwashing station, which was not in the original plan.
With the help of Water Charity in the first phase of this project last year, we were able to install a water storage tank, a water basin, and a rainwater catchment system. This system is still in use in one of the three buildings of the school.
The 10,000-liter tank was constructed at the building located at a higher elevation between the other two, and therefore has tubes that run the water from the tank to the other two schools that have smaller water storage tanks.
With the help of Water Charity, the school has experienced a miraculous transformation. The first phase of this project really motivated them to do more for their school, thus allowing this second phase to take place.
Now, upon the completion of this second phase, the three school buildings all have access to water. The teachers were trained to practice daily hygiene with their students each day. Each class was then trained by their teacher when and how to properly wash their hands and brush their teeth. Furthermore, the teachers decided to require each student to bring soap, a towel, a toothbrush, and toothpaste, so that they can incorporate these daily hygiene practices into their class schedule. The participation of the teachers in this project was a very rewarding aspect of working with this school.
It has been an amazing experience watching the transformation of the school’s water system. A year and a half ago, the students were bringing 2-liter bottles filled with well water from their homes to fill metal barrels that held the school’s water. Now, not only do they have the infrastructure to allow for increased access to water but also the education needed for healthy living and sustainability.
Once again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you to Water Charity and Michael and Carla Boyle for helping fund this project. Your support has completely transformed a rural village’s elementary and middle school’s sanitary infrastructure as well as the employees’ participation in identifying the needs of their school and creating solutions to acknowledge their needs.
We are grateful to Chelsea for completing this project as she ends her Peace Corps service, and we wish her the best.
Conclusion of Escuela Sector (1) Handwashing Station Project – Guatemala
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Madeline Syzek. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build an 8-faucet handwashing station and water storage system at the school.
Madeline reports:
An 8-faucet hand washing station, equipped with a water storage system, was built at the rural school Sector (1) in San Miguel Siguila, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
A local mason and unskilled workers worked diligently building the handwashing station from the ground up. They started by building the base with wood, cement, and iron bars. They then completed the shape of the hand washing station with cement and put into place the 8 faucets that would be used by the teachers and children. They also dug a drainage ditch, where they placed tubes to direct the water to the nearest drainage site.
The project went very smoothly, and with the Water Charity funds, the community and school were able to buy enough supplies to successfully complete the handwashing station that the school had desperately needed. Now, instead of 1 faucet for 300 children and 13 teachers, the school is equipped with 8 faucets where the children are able to practice hand washing and healthy habits.
When I visited the school to see the final product, the children could not wait to show me how to use the faucets. They immediately ran to their classrooms to get soap to wash their hands. The smiles on their faces showed how proud they were to have brand new faucets at their school, and the teachers were so grateful that they were able to receive a project that will greatly benefit their community.
We are grateful to Madeline for completing this project, and again extend our thanks to the Paul Bechtner Foundation for providing the funding.
The stations will be built by local workers from the community. The school will pay the labor expenses.
Handwashing stations will be fabricated and placed in public places. Each standard unit consists of a durable steel frame, a soap dispensing mechanism, and a plastic barrel with a valve. Provisions for runoff are made with channeling and gravel. In addition, a multi-unit solution to serve more people at a time can consist of one elevated water supply barrel plus several wastewater barrels over which hand washing takes place.
Dollar Amount of Project
Location
For each station, a platform will be constructed on which the tank (with taps) will be placed. A tin roof will be built and gutters will be attached so that rainwater can be harvested during the rainy season.
Comments
Location
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Matthew Borden. To read about the beginning of the project, 
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Madeline Syzek. To read about the beginning of the project, 
